Circulating-pump for electrolytic cells.



C. F. GARRIER, JR. GIRCULATING PUMP FOB. ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 19. 1907.

Patented Jan; 5, 1909.

TED ATES Perri FFICE.

oouRTLAND V F. CARRIER, JR;, OF ELMIRA, NEW. YORK.

bIlRCULATlNG PUMP FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

Application filed December 19, 1907. Serial No. 407,202.

and State of New York, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Circulating-Pumps for Electrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide in conjunction with the decom osin and oxidizing compartments of an e ectro ytic cell having a cathode of mercury, an improved means for circulating the mercury between said compartments.

In its preferred form theapparatus comprises a mercury conduit extending between the decomposing and oxidizing compartments of an electrolytic cell, an open, cylindrical pump-Well extending upwardly from the conduit, a casing in the'pump-well, and a rotary member or rotor in the casing, the rotor, casing and conduits consisting of a non metallic material and preferably of vitrified earthenware.

5 The improved circulating pump is of simle' construction and easily operated, durale and efficient, and is 'readily accessible for ins ection, cleaning 'or repair.

11 the manufacture of caustic soda by the aid of a mercury cathode, the circulation of the mercury is a very essential factor of the process. In general it is undesirable to raise the mercury through any considerable proposed for this use but have proven unsat-,

isfactory in practice, the difficulties, lying both in the materials of construction and in the arran ement of parts. I have found that a sufliciently quiet and uniform flow of the mercury may be obtained by a roper form and arrangement of parts whereliy the mercury may be impelled by a comparatively slow movement of the rotor, the mercury conduits being of comparatively large cross section and the rotor and easing being designed to present theminimum obstruction to the flow. I have further found that for the best results in the operation of a cell of the character describedthe use of irim in the construction of the rotor, casing, conduits or other parts in contact with the men cury must be avoided.

While iron is not affected in the dry state tion of a commercial mercury cell. ufficient moisture is .always carried with the mercury to rust any iron parts with which it is always absorbed by the mercury. This iron is found to render the mercury slug ish, to interfere with the electrolytic action 0 the provide therefore a construction wherein any contact of the mercury with iron parts is avoided.

' A mercury-circulating pump constructed in accordance with my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through the ump casing and mercury conduits of an e ectrolytic cell for the production of caustic soda; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on a larger scale, through the pump and casing on line 22 of Fig. 3; Fi 3 is a central vertical section on line 3-3 o Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a erspective View of the rotor, viewed from be ow.

The general arrangement of parts may be as indicated in Fig. 1, illustrating a cell of the type described in my 00 ending application, Ser. #370,280, filed pril 25, 1907, numeral 1 representing the central or decomposing compartment, and 22 the lateral or oxidizing compartments.

mercury from the oxidizing compartments 2 through conduits 4 and a bottom inlet 5, and discharging the same into a conduit 6 leading to the decomposing compartment.

The circulating apparatus consists essentially of a casing 7, and a rotor 8, the casing being set in a matrix 9 hf the best quality of concrete. The rotor and casing are preferably constructed of vitrified earthenware, and the mercury conduits 4 may also consist of vitrified earthenware pipes set in the concrete matrix 9. In the form shown the rotor earthenware, having in one end a cylindrical hole 10 for the reception of the shaft 11, the shaft being secured by a cement filling 12 or otherwise. The opposite or lower end of the rotor is provided with a number of vanes 13,

by mercury under ordinary conditions, this is not the case under the conditions etc eracell, and to contaminate the product. 1

shown as four in number, which project from comes in contact, and furthermore some iron 3 represents the mercury pump, receiving.

8 consists of a cylindrical block of vitrified I when the same is at rest.

til)

, tical open pump-well 16, formed in the conthe end of the cylinder and are formed, as an integral part of the same. These vanes are of massive construction to guard against hacture, and are further stren thened by the cylindrical lug 14, which reinforces them for a portion of their length. v

I The casing consists of a rectangular block 7 of vitrified earthenware, having a recess 15 of a size adapted to receive the rotor; this casing has a bottom inlet 5 for mercury, and a tangential discharge 6 of sufficient size to permit the mercury to escape under minimum ressure. The position of the casing and o the rotor with reference to the mercur-y in the cells is such that the vanes of the pump are below the level of themercury Accessto the pump is provided by a vercrete matrix!) and of slightly greater diameter than the rotor, thus permitting the rotor to he lifted out and exposing the entire interior of the pump. The mounting of the rotor should preferably be such as to permit its ready removal: it may be entirely supported from above, or it may be carried by a caring which is supported from the con: crete matrix 9. Thus 1 have shown in the drawing a bearing 17, affording the central bearing surface for a collar 18 on the shaft 1 1, the bearing 17 being peri herally su ported on a ring 19 set in the wall s of the wel 16, the. ring 19 being of suiiicient internal diameter to permit the passage of the rotor 8. The shaft may be rotated by any suitable means, as bevel gears it will be noted that the construction and dimensions of the conduits, pump casing and rotor are such as to provide a minimum of o struction to the flow of the mercury;

With this construction it is found that a rotation not exceeding 100-200 revolutions per minute will cause a quiet and uniform movement of the mercury through the outlet 6.v 'lhe simplicity of the apparatus reduces the wear to a minimum, and the absence of all metal fiom parts in contact with the mercury entirely avoids contamination of the product.

claim: a 1. In combination with the decomposing, and oxidizing compartments of an electrolytic cell having a mercury cathode, a merand a rotor lytic cell ha partments,

and a rotor ing a cyl "sonata cury conduit extending between said comr partments, a pump casing in said conduit,

in said casing, mg and rotor consisting of non-metallic material.

said conduits, cas- 2; In combination with the decom osing and oxidizin lyticcell ha cury conduit par-tments, p and a rotor in sai rotor consisting of .3. and oxidizin In com and oxidizin lytic cell ha 5. In com and oxidizin lytic cell h a pum g compartments of an e ectrovinga mercury cathode, a merextending between said comcasing in said conduit, casing, said casing and vitrified earthenware.

binationwith the de com osing g compartments of an e ectrovmg a mercury cathode, a mercury conduit extendingl artments, a rom said con uit, and a said rotor'of less diameter parts in contact with the mercury consisting of non-metallic material. In combination with the decom between said comopening upwardl 7o rotor in said wel than said well, the

ump-we osing gcompartments of an e ectrovlng a mercury cathode, a mercury conduit extending between said coma pump casing in said conduit, and a non-metallic rotor in said casing, said rotor comprisin a cylinder having vanes projecting from its lower surface.

bination with the decomposing g compartments of an electroaving a mercury cathode, a meronly conduit extending between said compartments, a pump casing in said conduit,

in said casing, inder having substantially radial vanes projecting from its lower surface and termiiiating at the said rotor comprispeiiphery of the cylinder.

11 combination with the decom osing and oxidizing compartments of an e ectrolytic cell having cury conduit extending between said compartments, a pumpicasing in said conduit aving an axial bottom and a rotor in said casing, said casing androtor consisting of non-metallic material.

a mercury cathode, a merinlet for mercury,

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

'COURTLAN D r. CARRIER, JR.-

MANDEVILLE,

AWKES. 

